Electric flatiron



Aug. 11, 1942.A

ELECTRIC FLAT IRON G. wAAGE 2,292,807

Filed Feb. ll, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.-l1, 1942. G. wAAGE ELECTRIC FLAT IRON Filed Feb. l1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet? 59 auf Patented` Aug. 1,1, i942 OFFICE ELECTRIC Gilbert wwe, chicago, n1., signor tonawsra P. Schreyer, Milwaukegflvis.

Application February 11, issaseris No. 255,839

'z claims. (ci. 11i- 311) This invention relates to electrically heated fiatirons and, in its most complete and preferred form, to a type of such flatirons designed to afford various degrees of heat such as low, medium,

v and high, and in the heating system of winch is incorporated a normally closed thermostatlc switch adapted to automatically open the circuit when a maximum ldegree of heat hasvbeeny reached in the flatiron, and automatically close when the heat has subsided below such maximum.

Heretofore, as far as I am aware, a single thermostatic switch has been employed to limit the several degrees of heat obtainable in the iron, such switch being adjustable to open at low, medium or high, as desired. Such a device is poor and unsatisfactory, because experience has shown that the switch, with repeated and frequent adjustments, through wear and for other causes becomes unreliable and short lived, requiring frequent renewal.

One object of this invention has been to provide an improved electric heating system for fiatirons which'will overcome the above noted objection and afford greater reliability, uniformity and longevity of the automatic thermostatic control.

Another object has been toprovide a visual heat condition signal means for indicating when the iron is delivering a low, medium or high heat, or lno heat at all. Such a signal device is valuable to prevent the use of the. iron at high heat on articles that will stand only medium or low 'heat without scorching, and the use of the iron at medium heat von articles that will stand only low heat without scorching.

Another object has been to provide an improved manually operated switch mechanism preferably located inthe handle of theflatiron, by means of which the user may, by a slight movement of thumb or a nger, selectively switch control the oi condition and the low, medium, and high heat circuits.

Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite side of the separator disc. f p Fig. 5 is a developed section of the separator disc on the circular line 5 5 of Fig. 3, the sidel appearing in Fig. 3 being uppermost.'

Fig. 6 is a view mainly in longitudinal section of the manual switch assembly that is preferably located in the handle and is operated by the sepy arator disc, showing all of the switch contacts separated corresponding to the oii"` position.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figzi but mainly in elevation, showing positions of the switch contacts corresponding to low, medium,

-v andhigh heat respectively.

2l. Strip IS carries a pair of button contacts 2| and 22 on opposite sides thereof lying opposite the'currert between low, medium, hot and Non."

Still other objects and advantages ofthe inventionwill bel apparent to persons'skllled in the art from the subjoined description of a practical and approved embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection through the Fig. 2da-a vert cal transverse section' taken on the line 2-2 of,- g. 1.

Fig. VZi-is aside elevation of airotatable separa- Fig; 10 is a diagram of the circuits and the manually operated and automatic thermostatic switches therein.

Describing first the manually operated switch assembly which is preferably located in the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, I I and I2 designate a pair of longitudinally opposed U-shaped frame members that at their inner"open ends straddle a pair of insulation blocks'll and are secured to the latter by rivets Il (Fig. 1).l vClamped between'the` blocks Il is a xed conductor plate I5 carrying on opposite sides thereof at one end button contacts IB and-I1. Also attached to the outer sides of the blocks Il by bolts "are a pair of flexible resilient conductor strips I9 and and to the blocks 2i areattached by bolts 26 a pair of conductor strips 21 and 2l. Strip 21 carries a button contact 28 lying opposite contact 2|, and strip 2l carries a button contact 3l lying opposite contact 23. Since the blocks 2l overlie the conductor strips I! and 2l, mica insulating strips 3l are interposed to prevent short circuits through the attaching bolts 2U.

The several circuits controlled bythe above described switch assembly are all normally open, as shown in Fig. 6, which corresponds to the oiT condition of the heater. The manually operated tor disc employed for operating the switches that 66 means for selectively closing the circuits which give low, medium, and high heats follows in principle a somewhat similar means disclosed in my Patent No. 2,054,147, dated September 15, 1936. 32 designates as an entirety a rotatable separator disc that is journaled on a .pivot pin 33 between the side walls of the frame member Il. In this disc is an arcuate slot 34 through which extends a fixed pin 35 to limit the turning movement to about 90 degrees. Through the disc are formed four parallel holes 36, 31, 33 and 39 (Fig. Hole 36 is formed with relatively deep countersinks 36' at each end thereof. Hole 31 is formed with a relatively shallow countersink 31' at one end while its other end is ilush with the other side of the disc. Hole 33 has a shallow countersink 38' at one end, while its other end is flush with the other side of the disc. And hole 39 has shallow countersinks 39' at both ends. These holes have no significance beyond providing a convenient means for locating and centering the several countersinks or recesses, and ventilating and cooling the disc. The two conductor strips I9 and 20 extend beyond their button con` tacts to overlap the sides of the disc 32 and are provided on their inner sides with buttons 46 and 4I that, under the elasticity of the strips i9 and 20, are lightly pressed against the sides of the disc 32. These buttons 4D and 4l have no current conducting function, but lie opposite the semi-circular path of the holes 36, 31, 38 and 33, and snap into the countersinks of said holes when the latter are moved into register with the -but- In the off position of the disc 32 shown in Figs. l, 6 and l0, the buttons 40 and 4i are seated in the countersinks 39', and all of the circuit closing contacts are separated. In the low heat position of disc 32 shown in Fig. hutten di lies in countersink 38', but button 40 lies against the side wall of disc 32 opposite the end ci im, and this exes strip I9 outwardly and ein Vs a low heat circuit through contacts 2i and ...la In the medium heat position ci disc iii. shown in Fig. 8, button 40 lies in countersink Si", hut hutton 4i lies against the other side wait ci' 32 opposite the end of hole 3l, and fiexes .strip 26 outwardly and closes a medium, heat circuit through contacts` 23 and in the high heat position of disc t2 shown in Fig. 9 hoth buttons closes hoth the low and medium heat cir through 'M and i6 on one side ci can ictor plate iii and buttons 3d and El? on the other side of said conductor plate. the pc riphery ci the disc 3E are position indicia suc Uit Low, Med and 1i-Ict, the rippert indicating the thermal condition ci 'the iron niet will follow the setting of the indicator.

Describing now the electric circui'w, and heating elements, automatic thermostatic switches, and signal lights included therein, and reicrring to the diagrammatic View Fig. "it, it. i3 design nate two power supply lines from. the opposite poles of a source of electric current. Continuu ous with line A is a line @i2 connected to which at @i3 is the bi-metaliic member it@ ci" anorrnaiiy closed thermostatic switch designated as a whole hy 45. From the switch til a line 46 extends to and through a heat condition signal light t1 r istahce glow wire interposed in the line 4t. Thence the line 46 extends to a connection with the flexible strip 21.l The return branch of this line from the manual switch is through the con- ,tapis 29 and 2|,str1p ls, nnen, to and through Q0 and. di lie in the deep coi'intersinlrs 36. and

h, as shown 'in Fig. l, may consist of a high@ a relatively short heating coil 43, and from the latter by lines 50 and 5| to the other supply circuit line B.

Connected to line 42 at 52 is a bi-metallic member 53 of a second thermostatic switch 54, from which a. line 55 leads to and through a second heat condition signal light 41', and thence to the iiexible conductor 28; the return being through .the contacts 30 and 23, flexible conductor 20, and line 56 to a relatively long heating coil 51, and from the latter by return lines 56 and 5I to the other /side B of the supply circuit line. Also connected to the line 42 at 59 is a iii-metallic member 60 of a third thermostatic switch 6|, from which a line 62 leads through a third heat condition signal light 41 and thence to and through the conductor plate I5, from which lattei` the return is by way of contacts I1 and 24, strip 20, line 56, heating element 51, and line 56 to line 5i on one side, and through contacts i6 and 22, conductor strip I9, line 43, heating element 49 and line 50 to line 5I on the other side. It will thus be seen that when contacts il and 24 and contacts I6 and 22 are both closed (as shown in Fig. 9) both of the low and medium heat circuits are connected in parallel to give the high heat or hot eiect.

Thelmanner in which this heating and signalling system is installed in the iiatiron is-illustrated in Figs. l and 2. 63 designates the shoe and t4 a at weight superimposed on the shoe and fastened thereto by screws 65. Between the shoe and weight are the heating coils 43 and 61 wound on a mica form conventionally shown at f 8% and insulated by upper and lower mica sheets $1 and 66. Since this speciiic form Ofelectric heating element is old and knowmthe same is not herein illustrated in detail. Surmounting the shoe 63. and attached to the 'weight '64 by long screws St is a metal shell l0, through the top of which eirpi .s the lower horizontal iirnh of a metal lia-ndi li, to and between the upper ends cw fi is secured by screws l2 a hollow hai f operated the top er dome attached 'by t suie-tion hloct. pockets it, 'it 4H, 567i' and W hy green, einher Si ri ctivelytha ,'cjf the top wall or iight oit hy l hotes o the "underside of shew. 'it centered and formed wire lights 'the glow wires (Fis. ,22) in the lower il handle support 'ii that register with the pockets, and thence through the colored hoods and Si, so that the diiierentir colored 4aunts are clearly visita-ie 'to the user. 'Below the insulation hlock it is insulation biock 33 that forms a convenient support for the thermcstatic switches, d .in the rear portion ci the cc-dy is another insulation bloei: I4 scour 1 the shell "it by the threaded stems ci two prongs n and that, together with the surroundhig sleeve attached to the rear limb ci the han die support, form a socket 4to receive a. female ping on the electric supply line. The block I2t c'- stitutes an intermediate support for the sevi circuit lines eading to the thermostatic ries and to and from the switch assembly in the handle.

In using the iron, the separator disc is turnedv to bring the Low, Med or Hot designation uppermost, according to whethera low. me-

s the manually.

dium or high heat is desired, which causes the green, amber or red light to show.' And since these lights are in separatevbranch circuits only one of which is closed at any time, only 'one lightwill show at a time. Oi course, a short interval vof time is required to bring the iron up to the particular heat indicated by the light selected, but if, during theironing operation, the

heat of the iron should rise slightly above the maximum of the heat selected, the thermostatic switch of the circuitin use will open the circuit, thus preventing danger of scorching. The chief value of the individual circuit lights and .thermostatic switches, however, is to scorching when shifting from a higher to a lower heat. To illustrate, suppose the laundress has been using the high or medium heat and shifts prevent danger of the separator disc to bring on the next lower I heat. At thisv time the thermostatlc switch ofthe circuit giving thenext lower heat is open,

\ circuit.

Thus, when shifting either from a lower to a a vpredetermined value substantially less t the temperature at the time of opening .the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated visual signal, of dinerent appearance than the high heat signal, in the'circuitv to said lower` heat delivering means to indicate when the temperature oi.' the iron has dropped below said predetermined I value and when it is safe to use the iron on' fabricsv which would be scorched by a'vhigher temperature.

3. In an electric iron, electrically energizedA means yfor delivering a relatively high heat, an electric circuit for said means-,. a visual electric signal in the circuit to said high heat `delivering means, a thermostat controlling said high heat circuit, electrically energized 'means for delivering a lower heat, an electric circuit for said last means, manual switch means for opening said high heat circuit and for preparing said lower heat circuit for operation, a 'thermostat for maintaining said lower heat circuit in open condition after said manual switch ,has been thus operated and for closing said lower heat circuit only when the temperature of the iron drops below a predetermined value substantially -less than the temperature at the time of opening the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated visual signal,.of different appearance than the higher heat or from a higher to a lower heat,

all danger of scorching is automatically obviated.

The details of structure and arrangement herein shown and described Imay be varied within the skill oi the designer and maker ci electric ilatirons without departing from the invention,4

and hence I do not limit the invention vto such details except to the extent clearly indicated in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric iron, electrically energized means for delivering a relatively high heat, an electric circuit for said means, electrically energized means for delivering a lower heat, an electric circuit for said last means, manual switch means for opening said high heat circuit and, for preparing said lower heat circuit for operation, a thermostat .for maintaining said lower heat circuit in open condition after said manual switch hasrbeen thus operated and for closing said lower heat circuit only when the temperature of the iron drops below a predetermined value substantially less than the temperature at the time of opening the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated signal in the circuit to said lower heat deliveringmeans to indicate when the temperature o1 the iron has dropped below said predetermined value and when it is safe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by a higher temperature.

2. In an electric iron, electrically energized means for delivering a relatively high heat, an electric circuitv for said means, a visual electric signal in the circuit to said high heat delivering means, electrically energizedvmeans for delivering a lower heat, an electric circuit fory said last means, manual switch means for opening saidl high heat circuit and for preparing said lower heat circuit for operation, a thermostat for maintaining said lower heat circuit in open condihigh h eat signal, inthe circuit to said lower heat delivering means to indicate when the temperature of the iron has dropped below said predetermined value and when it islsafe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by a higher temperature. i

4. In an electric iron, an electric heating element for delivering a relatively high heat. an electric circuit for said element, an electric heating element `for delivering a lower heat, an elec- `tric circuit for said last heating element, manual switch means for opening the circuit to said high heat element and for preparing the circuit 1 oi' said lower heat element for operation, a thermostat i'or maintaining said lower heat circuit in open condition after said manual switch has men thus .operated and for closing said lowerheat circuit only when the temperature o! Athe iron drops below a predetermined value substantially less than the temperature at the time of opening the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated signal in the circuit to said -lower heat delivering element to indicate when f the temperature o! the iron has dropped 'below tion aftersaid manual switch has' been thus oper ated and for closing saidlower heat circuit only when the temperature of the iron drops below said predetermined value and when it is safe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by a higher temperature.

5. In an electric iron, an electric heating element for delivering a relatively high heat, an electric circuit for said element, a visual electric signal in the circuit to said high heat element. an electric heating elementfor delivering a lower heat, an electric circuit for said last heating element, manual switch means for opening the circuit to said high heat element and for preparing the circuit oi' said lower heat element for operation, a thermostat formaintaining said lower heat circuit in open condition after said manual switch has been thus operated and for closing said lower heat circuit onlyy when the temperature o! the iron drops belowA a predetermined value 'substantially less than the temperature at the time oi' opening the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated visual signal, of different appearance than the high heat signal, in the circuit to said lower heat delivering element to,

indicate when the temperature of the iron has droppedv below when it is safe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by a higher temperature.

6. In an electric iron, an electric heating element for delivering a relatively high heat, -an electric circuit for said element, a visual electric ksignal in the circuit to said high heat element, a thermostat controlling said high heat circuit, .an electric heating element for delivering a lower heat, an electric circuit for said last heating element, manual switch means for opening the circuit to said high heat element and for preparing the circuit of said lower heat element for operation, a thermostat for maintaining said lower heat circuit in open condition after said manual switch has been thus operated and for closing said lower heat circuit only when the temperature of the iron drops below a 'predetermined value substantially less than the temperature at the time of opening the high heat circuit, and an electrically operated visual signal, of different appearance than the high heat signal, in the circuit to said lower heat delivsad predetermined value and indicate when the temperature dropped' below said predetermined value and when it is safe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by a higher temperature.

'7. In an electric iron, means including an electric heater adapted to heat the iron to a relatively high temperature or to a lower temperature, manually operated means for stopping .said high temperature operation and `for preparing for low temperature operation, means including a thermostatic element'operable when .the iron has cooled to a predetermined value below its temperature. at the time high temperature operation was stopped for causing low temperature operation of said heating means to begin, and an electric signal in series with said thermostatic element indicating when it is safe to use the iron on fabrics which would be scorched by' a temperature higher than the maximum allowed by said thermostatic element.

ering element to GILBERT WAAGE. 

